Weighing and feed device having volume and dribble feed



Jan. 6, 1953 J. P. VOLLER 2,524,443

WEIGHING AND FEED DEVICE HAVING VOLUME AND DRIBBLE FEED Filed Feb. 2,1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. dame-s F? VOLL ER Jan. 6, 1953 J. P.VOLLER 2,624,443

WEIGHING AND FEED DEVICE HAV I NG VOLUME. AND DRIBBLE FEED Filed Feb. 2,1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. d/q MES P. VOLLEB g w wm-mufiirrore/vz s J. P. VOLLER Jan. 6, 1953" WEIGHING AND FEED DEVICE HAVINGVOLUME AND DRIBBLE FEED Filed Feb. 2. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 HTroEws xsPatented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE VVEIGHING AND FEEDDEVICE HAVING VOLUME AND DRIBBLE FEED James PfVoller, Fresno, Oalii,assignor to'Su'n- Maid Raisin Growers of California, Fresno, Caliil, acooperative association oi'California Application February 2, 1343,Serial No. 5,823

(Cl. Hid-39) This invention relates'to a feed device for automaticallyfeeding a'predetermine'd weight of material into cartons or containersand has for its objects the provision of improved apparatus for quicklyand accurately'weighing batches of material and for successivelydischarging the wei hed material into successivelypositioned containers,the steps of delivering the material for weighing, the weighingthedischarging of the weighed material and'the positioning of thecontainers and removal of the filled containers being automatic.

While the present apparatus'is found to be particularly suitable foraccurate and rapid weighing of small discretebodies of dried fruit, suchas raisins'its application to other materials will be obvious.

'In the filling or containers with raisins by methods and apparatusheretofore employed, it

has been found that from about fifteen to twe'ntyu live per cent of thecartons are or incorrect weight and whenthese cartons are underweight ithas meant that they must be opened, more raisins inserted, and thenrescaled. If the weight toogreat, the packer has the option of absorbingthe loss and permitting the cartons to go out or opening the cartons andremoving the excess raisins and then rescaling the cartons.

Most methods heretofore suggested have contemplated a main feed and adribble feed utilizing endless belt conveyors or the like in which onebelt continuously discharges a relatively large volume of material pe'minute until about the right weight is reached, and'then such belt stopsand the dribble feed continues to discharge a .lesser volume per minuteuntil the weight hopper indicates that substantially the desired weightis in the hopper. Special movable discharge gates open and close fordischarging the material and for restoring the hoppers that are used toholding position. While these devices have been 'found to be fairlysatisfactory where relatively large particles of material are Weighed,they have not been found suitable for such light small articles asraisins.

With the present invention it hasbeen found that the weights areconsiderably more uniform and that only about from one per cent to fiveper cent of the cartons are of incorrect weight,

thereby materially reducing the cost involved in packing where cartonsmust be opened and rethrough the apparatus with'the electrical circuitSr! and conventional electrical elements,-such asan actuating motor,switches, solenoids, etc, being diagrammatically indicated. Alsothe'container conveyor is semi-diagrammatically indicated.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional, part elevational view of the device of Fig.1' as seen at right angles to the latter.

Fig. 3 is a schematic View of theelectr-ical oicuit and parts therein.

In detail, the raisins to be fed to the present device are deliveredthereto through a vertical conduit I in which there is a downwardlyswinging element 2 that is-held down in-the position shown in Fig. 1 aslong as thereis a head of raisins in the discharge end of the conduit.Pivot 3 of this element 2 may be rotatable with movement of the gate'andis connected with a radially extending arm t carrying a conventionalmercury switch 5 that is in an electrical circuit that includes amagnetic or electrically actuatable clutch 8 is a drive connectionbetweenthe device and a motor II.

The movement or" the mercury switch 5 is simultaneous with the swingingof the element 2, and the arm has an extension -9 that-is at the otherside of pivot 3, which extension has a Weight H3 thereon thatconstitutes gravity means for swinging the switch up for opening thecircuit when no material is in the-conduit.

Motor I I is continuous in operation butmay'be stopped in the usualmanner by a hand'switch or in any other suitable and desired manner.

Assuming that material is in the conduit I and the clutch 3 isenergized, the said material will be fed against the uppermost sides ofa pair of rotary drum-like conveyors I2, 13 that are in coaxial side byside'rlation on a common shaft It. The conveyor I2is rotatable on shaftbut conveyor I3 is keyed to the shaft for rotation therewith.

The conveyor I2 may be'terzned the volume feed conveyor, while conveyorI3 may becalled the dribble feed conveyor.

Volume feed conveyor I2 is formed witha'plurality of radially outwardlyopening pockets l5, each of which 'is adapted to hold say approximately90% of the desired weight of raisinsto'be placed in. containers lothatareatthe lowerportion or the device.

From the above, it will be seen that when one of the pockets I5is'uppermostit will befilledwith raisins, there being side walls I!(Fig. 1) in downward extension of conduit to'direct'the into only theuppermost pocket in'the volume feed conveyor.

Also raisins from the conduit and between walls ll will be in engagementwith the peripheral uppermost surfaceof the dribble feed conveyor I3.Said surfacedoesnot have p ockets therein like conveyor I 2, and thedribble feed conveyor is quite thin or narrow relative to the width ofthe volume feed conveyor. Said peripheral surface of the dribble feedconveyor may have slight projections I8 thereon and the lower edge ofthe wall I! in the direction of rotation of the conveyors (which iscounterclockwise as seen in Fig. 1) will clear the peripheral surface ofthe dribble feed conveyor by only about the thickness of a raisin, whichis about the degree the projections I6 extend from the surface of thedribble feed conveyor. Thus, upon rotation of conveyor I3counterclockwise, only a few raisins in a thin layer of narrow widthwill be moved from between walls I! for discharge.

A gear reduction box I9 may be connected with the motor II and thedriven shaft of said box is connected with shaft I4 of the conveyors bysaid motor clutch 8. A solenoid 2| may be in said circuit 6, 1 as theelectrical means for moving the actual clutch element.

Secured to stationary frame of the device is an annular member 26 thatis concentric with the conveyors I2, I3 and adjacent the end of conveyorI2 that is opposite conveyor I3.

This member 26 may carry several solenoids 27 thereon (only one beingshown in the diagrammatic view Fig. 3), each of which solenoids ispivotally connected with a lever 28. These levers 26 are normally heldagainst stops 23 by springs 33', in which position said levers extendsubstantially radially inwardly from member 26 to which they are pivotedat one of their ends. Stops 29 may also be formed integrally with member26.

Keyed on shaft I4 at the same side of volume pawls 3I extends atopposite ends thereof past the pivot 32 that secures each pawl toconveyor I2. One end of each pawl is formed with a tooth 33 that isadapted to engage a tooth of the gear when the tooth end of the pawl isswung toward the gear and each pawl tends to be yieldably swung on itspivot so said tooth will engage said gear teeth by a torsion spring 34(Fig. l).

The end of each pawl opposite tooth 33 has a cam surface 35 that istangential to a circle concentric with the member 26 when the tooth oneach pawl engages one of the teeth of gear 36. The path of travel ofthese cam surfaces, when the conveyor I2 is rotated counterclockwise asseen in Fig. 1, is such that the said surfaces will simultaneouslystrike the radially inwardly projecting ends of the levers 28 to swingsaid pawls toward the solenoids, thereby releasing teeth 33 from theteeth of gear 36 and also stopping rota tion of conveyor I2 in aposition in which one of its pockets I 5 is in exactly the rightposition for filling with raisins. The solenoids are, of course,de-energized at the time the levers function as stop members for theconveyor I2.

Until the levers 28 are pulled by the solenoids 21 away from the pawls3I and toward said solenoids (which frees the pawls and prevents theirfouling by said levers when the springs 34 force teeth 33 intoengagement with the teeth on gear 30) the conveyor I2 will remainstationary. However, the instant solenoids 2'! are actuated, the teeth33 will engage the teeth of the continuously rotating gear 30 and theconveyor will be rotated counterclockwise until the pawl surfaces 35strike the outer ends of lever 28 As shown in Fig. 1, there are threepockets in conveyor I2 and three solenoids and three pawls. As willlater be explained, the conveyor I2 will make only one-third of arevolution each time the pawl teeth 33 engage gear 30. This onethirdrevolution is sufilcient to move the previously filled pocket I5 to aposition in which its contents will be emptied by gravity.

After the material in a pocket I5 is discharged, the dribble feedconveyor I3 will continue to revolve and to carry raisins to a dischargepoint located at substantially the same place as that of the pockets I5.This will continue until the motor clutch 8 is disengaged. However, whensolenoid 2I or any other electrical means in a magnetic clutch foractuating the same is energized, the motor clutch will be disengaged andeverything on shaft I4 will stop.

Below the discharge side of conveyors I2, I3 is a balanced hopper 40that is supported on a rotatable shaft 4!. This hopper 46 has threeradially outwardly opening compartments 62 therein, and when any one ofthese is uppermost it is in exactly the right position to receive theraisins or material discharged from both of the conveyors I2, I3.

A ratchet wheel 63 is secured to the hopper 63, which wheel has threeequally spaced teeth 35. One of these is adapted to be engaged by pawl65 that is pivotally secured on a radially upwardly projecting armhaving a weight 5? at its upper end. Arm 46 is rotatable on shaft 2! andhas a downward extension 48 that is pivotally secured at its lower endto one end of an extension 49 of a solenoid core in solenoid 59.

The hopper 40 itself has vertical circular ends 5I, one of which mayhave three equally spaced recesses 52 therein for frictional engagementwith a spring urged pin 53 (Fig. 1) carried by one of the sides 54 of afunnel-like chute 55 into the enlarged upper end of which the hopper isadapted to discharge its load.

When the pin 53 is in one of the recesses 52, the uppermost compartment42 is in a position to receive all of the material discharged fromconveyors I2, I3. However, upon actuation of solenoid 56, the extension43 will be rotated on shaft AI causing the arm 66 and pawl 45 to berotated counterclockwise with the result that as soon as the weight ofmaterial in the uppermost compartment moves slightly in acounterclockwise direction gravity will cause its continued movement todischarge position in which the contents of said compartment will passinto the fun nel chute 55, the lower end of which is in or di reotlyover a carton I6 on conveyor 56, which carton will receive the fullcontents of the compartment.

The rotation of the hopper will stop, then the next recess in the end 5|comes to the spring urged pin 53. Arm 46 is automatically returned byinfluence of weight 47 when the solenoid 53 is ole-energized.

In practice, a gate means 57 may be in the feed conduit I at a levelabove the element 2, which gate means may be connected in any suitablemanner with electrical means, such as a solenoid 58 for closing theconduit as long as a predetermined amount of material is moving pastsaid element 2.

This solenoid may be in a circuit 63 that is connected with the mainlead in Wires SI, 62. A switch 63 may be in said circuit 66 actuated byextension 3 of switch 5 for energizing said solenoid when the element 2is in a closed position.

Thus an excessive head of material will not be in the lower end of theconduit, but only a head determined by the force applied by it onelement 2. As soon as this force decreases a predetermined amount, andthe arm 9 swings down, the switch 63 is broken and gate means 51 opens,but as soon as the switch 63 is closed, the gate 51 is closed.

The bearings 64 of balance hopper 40 may be supported on a knife edge 65that is on the outer end of a balance arm 66 fulcrumed at 61. The otherend of arm 66 may actuate a switch 68 for closing contacts 69, 10 in anelectrical circuit, one wire H connecting contact 10 with the lead-inwire 62 with which wire 6 of switch 5 also connects.

When there is no weight in hopper 40, the switch 68 is open but when apredetermined weight is in said hopper (the uppermost compartment) theswitch will break the circuit.

A sprocket chain 12 may connect sprocket 13 at one of the pulley shaftsof conveyor 56 with a sprocket 14 connected with the gear conveyor 12.Thus upon each actuation of conveyor l2 the conveyor 56 will be advancedto bring an empty carton under the discharge funnel 55.

The contact 69 of switch 68 is connected by a wire 15 with one terminalof solenoid 50 and also with relay I6. Said relay is also connected bywire 11 with one of the terminals of each of the solenoids 21 thatrelease pawls 3|. The other terminals of solenoids 21 are connected bywires 18 with the other terminal of solenoid 50. Also a wire 19 connectsthe other terminal of relay 16 with wire '15 that extends from contact69.

The armature or switch arm 80 of relay 16 has one contact 81 connectedwith wire I that extends to switch 5 while the other contact 82 isconnected by a wire 83 with one terminal of solenoid 2| (motor clutch).The other terminal of solenoid 2| is connected by a wire 84 with lead inwire BI.

In the device as shown in the drawings, the teeth 33 of pawls 3| areheld disengaged from the teeth of gear by levers 28, the solenoids 21being de-energized. Solenoid 50 is also de-energized. However, the motorclutch 8 (or its solenoid 2 i) is energized and switch 5 is closed,which means that material is being fed to the volume and dribbleconveyors. The dribble conveyor is rotating and feeding raisins to thebalance hopper but the volume conveyor is stationary and cannot moveuntil the solenoids 21 are energized.

To start the operation, this energizing of solenoids 21 may be donemanually by closing switch,

68 or the dribble feed conveyor may be permitted to fill the uppermostcompartment in hopper 40 to the desired weight. Assuming the latter isthe method used, as soon as the desired weight is in the hopper, thesame will swing downwardly, whereupon switch 68 will be closed, therebyenergizing relay (6 which will break the motor clutch circuit stoppingthe dribble feed conveyor and energizing solenoid 50, which will dumpthe hopper 40. Also the circuit to the solenoids 21 will be closedwhereupon the pawls 31 will be released and teeth 33 will engage theteeth in gear 30.

Actuation of solenoid will result in an empty compartment coming underthe volume and dribble feed conveyors preparatory to receiving a freshload.

As soon as the hopper 4D has discharged its load, the switch 68 willagain be broken, thereby de-energizing relay 16 and solenoids 21, and atthe same time closing the switch 80 in lines 83,

I for energizing the motor clutch solenoid 2i, whereupon both the volumeand dribble feed conveyors will be actuated, but the volume conveyorwill only revolve until the pawls 3| engage levers 28 when it will bestopped. However, this is suihcient to dump the contents of theuppermost recess 15 into the feed hopper and to position the next recessfor receiving a new load.

In the meantime the dribble feed continues to feed material into thehopper until the desired weight is in the latter and then the abovedescribed cycle is repeated.

It is thought obvious that certain changes may be made in the device asdescribed above without departing from the invention. It is to beunderstood, therefore, that the precise detailed description anddrawings are not to be considered as limitations on the invention. Theyare merely intended to be illustrative of a preferred form.

I claim:

In a feed device, a first drum-like conveyor and a second drum-likeconveyor coaxial therewith and closely alongside the former, the axialwidth of said first conveyor being substantially greater than the axialwidth of said second conveyor, said first conveyor having radiallyoutwardly opening pockets therein for respectively receiving apredetermined weight of uniform discrete bodies when each pocket isdirected upwardly and said second conveyor having a peripheral surfacethe uppermost side of which is adapted to carry a single layer of saidbodies only, means for restricting said latter surface to so carryingsaid single layer for downward discharge of bodies therefrom by gravityupon rotation of said second conveyor, power means for rotating saidconveyors, a balanced hopper below said conveyors positioned forreceiving said bodies from each of said conveyors, means supporting saidhopper for downward movement upon a predetermined weight being in saidhopper, means actuated by said downward movement for rotating said firstconveyor a fraction only of a revolution for each such movement to causesuccessive discharge of material from each pocket separately, separatemeans actuated by said downward movement for stopping rotation of saidsecond conveyor, said separate means including a solenoid in anelectrical circuit and a clutch actuated by said solenoid fordisengaging the power means from said second conveyor, said means forrotating said first conveyor comprising a constantly rotating membercoaxial with said conveyor, a movable element carried by said firstconveyor and engageable with said rotating member for rotating saidfirst conveyor, a solenoid operatively connected with said element fordisconnecting the latter from said member after said fraction of arotation of said first conveyor.

JAMES P. VOLLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 570,302 Richards Oct. 27, 1896924,570 Mulloy June 8, 1909 1,115,633 Wellman Nov. 3, 1914 1,259,836Close Mar. 19, 1918 1,489,676 Smith et a1 Apr. 8, 1924 1,580,746McKeighan Apr. 13, 1926 2,141,296 Ferguson Dec. 27, 1938 2,177,997Ripley Oct. 31, 1939

